Report faults lack of fire manager in prescribed burn gone awry

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Too many fire managers were gone from Grand Canyon National Park while the park was conducting a prescribed burn that eventually became a wildfire, according to investigators.

Because fire managers were sent to a fire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Los Alamos, N.M., and another large fire near Globe, Ariz., those who stayed behind at the canyon were forced to take on so many roles it diverted their attention, according to a National Park Service report obtained by the Arizona Daily Sun.

The plan for the prescribed burn also failed to say what actions officials at the scene should take if the fire grew out of control.

The fire set in late April blew out of control earlier this month and had charred 13,350 acres and forced the closure of the North Rim before it was fully contained Sunday. Officials spent $6 million to fight it.

At the request of park Superintendent Rob Arnberger, an eight-member team of federal land managers, a National Weather Service official and a prescribed fire expert spent four days reviewing documents and conducting interviews for the report.

Arnberger asked the team to determine if the fire plan was adequate, given the objects and conditions; if the service followed the procedures outlined in the plan and agency guidelines; and, if personnel conducting the burn were qualified to do the job.

The team found no violations of park policy or fault with the way the park service conducted the controlled burn.

The team also said all personnel involved were experienced in conducting prescribed burns and fighting fires.